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Thursday, January 23, 2014

Audio Review: Sisterland by Curtis Sittenfeld

Title: Sisterland
Author: Curtis Sittenfeld

Narrator: Rebecca Lowman
Publication: June 25, 2013
Publisher: Random House Audio
Source: Library
Genre: Women's Fiction, Contemporary, Paranormal
Length: 14 hours 59 minutes
Format: Unabridged Audio
Audience: 17+


Synopsis: Curtis Sittenfeld, New York Times bestselling author of American Wife and Prep, returns with a mesmerizing novel of family and identity, loyalty and deception, and the delicate line between truth and belief. 

From an early age, Kate and her identical twin sister, Violet, knew that they were unlike everyone else. Kate and Vi were born with peculiar “senses”—innate psychic abilities concerning future events and other people’s secrets. Though Vi embraced her visions, Kate did her best to hide them. 

Now, years later, their different paths have led them both back to their hometown of St. Louis. Vi has pursued an eccentric career as a psychic medium, while Kate, a devoted wife and mother, has settled down in the suburbs to raise her two young children. But when a minor earthquake hits in the middle of the night, the normal life Kate has always wished for begins to shift. After Vi goes on television to share a premonition that another, more devastating earthquake will soon hit the St. Louis area, Kate is mortified. Equally troubling, however, is her fear that Vi may be right. As the date of the predicted earthquake quickly approaches, Kate is forced to reconcile her fraught relationship with her sister and to face truths about herself she’s long tried to deny. 

Funny, haunting, and thought-provoking, Sisterland is a beautifully written novel of the obligation we have toward others, and the responsibility we take for ourselves. With her deep empathy, keen wisdom, and unerring talent for finding the extraordinary moments in our everyday lives, Curtis Sittenfeld is one of the most exceptional voices in literary fiction today.

My Thoughts: I loved this story. Twin sisters with physic abilities and how they cope with said abilities drew me in. I am glad that I listened to this as the beginning was a little slow. Now that I have experienced this book I will probably go back and read it. Once the story picked up it was good and juicy. 

The story is told from Kate's point of view. It was easy for me to connect with Kate as we seem to have similar personalities. Kate's devotion to her family is something I can relate to. I completely understand how becoming a parent changes how you view and are perceived by the world. I laughed many times and experienced one jaw dropping moment. The only thing has to do with the audio. It was difficult to determine when past experiences were being talked about. It is probably easier to tell with the physical text as there is probably some sort of visual differentiation between the past and present. 

This is a single voiced unabridged production. Rebecca Lowman is a great narrator and I enjoy listening to books she narrates. She makes each character real. Lowman differentiation between each character is distinct. The original material lends itself well to audio presentation. A steady pace is maintained throughout the production. 


Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Excerpt & Giveaway: Cup of Life by Juliana Haygert

Title: Cup of Life 
Author: Juliana Haygert
Series: Everlast #2.5
Publication: January 20th 2014
Genre: Fantasy, New Adult, Paranormal Romance


Synopsis:
His existence would mean nothing without her.

**New Adult Fantasy Novella**

**Novella between book #2 and #3, told on Micah’s POV**

Excerpt:
I dropped the box in the living room as Nadine walked to the door of her bedroom and stared at the inside.
“What is it, darling?” I followed her gaze. The furniture we had found was simple. A brown wood, queen bed and nightstand, thin mattress, and a dark blue comforter. Nothing else. No curtains, no rugs, no decorations, no drawer, no dresser—the same as the other bedrooms.
“It’s so lifeless,” she muttered. “If the bed was made of metal, I would think we were in a prison.”
A prison. That was what this was for her. This situation, this place, this war, the Soul Oath. Her prison.
I leaned closer to her and kissed the top of her head, not sure what to say. She turned to me, with suspicion in her pretty eyes, as if she doubted my intentions. I guess she had no reason not to suspect my intentions. She once said she was tired of my mixed signals. I was too, but I couldn’t help myself. I tried, with all my might, to stay away from her, not to touch her, not to hug her, not to kiss her. So far, I was failing.
“Come on, darling. You love it when I kiss you.” Teasing came naturally, and she actually reacted the way she always should react with me: her brows knotted and she dismissed me. I should have stopped there. I should have walked away and left her be. Instead, I nudged her arm with my elbow. “What?”
“Nothing,” she said, her tone indicating it wasn’t really nothing. She sighed and stepped into her bedroom. “I guess I better ...” She gestured around the room, and I had no idea what she meant.
Nevertheless, I went along with it. “Sure. Yeah.

She closed the door in my face.

Author Bio:
While Juliana Haygert dreams of being Wonder Woman, Buffy, or a blood elf shadow priest, she settles for the less exciting—but equally gratifying—life of a wife, mother, and author. Thousands of miles away from her former home in Brazil, she now resides in Connecticut and spends her days writing about kick-ass heroines and the heroes who drive them crazy.



Giveaway: This giveaway is open internatinaly and is sponsored by the author. Please use the rafflecopter form below to enter. 
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Thursday, January 16, 2014

Excerpt, Interview &Giveaway: Forever Loved by Deanna Roy

Title: Forever Loved
Author: Deanna Roy
Series: The Forever Series (#2)
Publication: January 10, 2014
Publisher: Casey shay Press
Genre: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance
Audience: 17+


Synopsis: The much-anticipated sequel to the bestselling new adult romance Forever Innocent.

When Gavin saves Corabelle from her plunge into the frigid waters of the Pacific, he knows her recovery from pneumonia is only the beginning of their journey. They share a difficult history — a teen pregnancy, a seven-day-old baby who died of a heart condition, and his decision four years ago to leave Corabelle behind and not look back.

But there are no secrets between them now. As Gavin and Corabelle build a new future together, they learn to trust each other again, falling back on that love they have shared since they were children.

But their past has one last shocking surprise, a revelation that will shake their tender bond and pierce the heart of Corabelle, who has just begun to believe that she truly is Gavin’s only forever love.

Forever Loved is the heart-wrenching conclusion to Corabelle and Gavin's passionate story.

Excerpt:
Forever Loved, Book 2 of the Forever Series

The bestselling story Forever Innocent (just 99 cents through Jan. 24) comes to its dramatic conclusion in Forever Loved, out Jan. 10 from author Deanna Roy.

In this scene, Gavin realizes that his ditching Corabelle has had grave consequences as she attempts to recover from pneumonia in the hospital.

________________

I stepped out of the curtain space quickly and walked along the semicircle, praying Corabelle was in one of them. A teenage boy. A middle-aged woman. A man in traction.

Then I saw her. She slept, her dark hair tied up in a knot high on her head.

I almost dropped to my knees.

She had a tube going into her mouth, a blue one just like Finn’s. Her heartbeat registered on a monitor, as well as her oxygen levels. I tried to shake the vision of the NICU, but the noises were too similar, the wheeze of a ventilator and periodic beeps.

I stumbled toward her like a dying man. What had happened? My stomach felt lined with rocks. I sat on the bed and brushed back a wisp of hair from her forehead. She slept really hard, not shifting at all with my touch. They must have given her something to knock her out. Even the first two nights when she was sick, she would still shift around, sometimes making little sounds. Now she was so flat to the bed.

Like Finn had been after I’d signed the papers to disconnect him.

Remorse crashed over me like a wave. I had screwed everything up. Walked out on her. Gone to Mexico. And here she was, barely holding on.

“I’m so sorry, baby,” I whispered.

I shouldn’t be in her life at all. She’d been doing fine until I came along. Going to school, planning her future.

Now she was here.

The monitors continued their steady sounds.

I heard the nurse talking and panicked. I would not leave her now. The machines were to the left of the bed, so the nurse would probably approach there. I ducked to the opposite side and folded tight into a ball, tugging the curtain in front of me so that I sat between it and the concrete wall.

I couldn’t see anything, but the footsteps grew closer, paused, then faded away again. The maintenance cart began rolling, wheels clattering on the concrete floor.

When the room was quiet again, I peeked out. Corabelle had not moved. Her elbow was bent near the edge of the bed, and I shifted forward to lay my forehead against her cool skin.

I wished we could go back to that first night at the astronomy star party, when Corabelle stretched out beside me on the roof, and we realized the world had pushed us back together after four years. But I’d gotten angry, and taken off. If I could just do that night again, I wouldn’t have left then either. If we’d been better from the beginning, she wouldn’t have walked into that damn ocean.

I just kept leaving. I just kept walking away.

Until I figured all this out, I could not be the man who always stayed the course. I would continue to be the one who wasn’t there when things got tough.


I didn’t want to be that person.

Interview: 
Today we’re chatting with Jenny, best friend of Corabelle, the main character of Deanna Roy’s Forever Series, including the bestselling Forever Innocent (on sale for 99 cents through Jan. 24) and the sequel Forever Loved, which just came out Jan. 10.

Hair color: PINK! Of course. Oh, you mean the real stuff? No telling. I’ve been pink since I was 13. Probably some horrid ashy brown. The world will never know, thanks to Manic Panic. (My bathroom always looks someone just murdered Strawberry Shortcake.)

Eye color: A bizarre grayish dull green. No emerald or sapphire or any other cool romance novel color. (Stupid author. Can I at least be jade? In fact, can I change my name to Jade? I don’t know what she was thinking when she named me Jenny. I am not girl-next-door-name material.)

Height: What is this? A physical exam? With boots or without? I can reach the top shelf in my kitchen in my tin-foil stilettos, so does that make me 5’9”? We’ll go with 5’9”. BTW, don’t ask my weight or I’ll mix Manic Panic with your hair gel. And not a cool color either. Think seaweed.

School: UC San Diego. I’ve been undecided since kindergarten. I’m a junior credit-wise although I’ve only been there two years. Ha, you thought I was an airhead. I placed out of twelve hours, people. Pink hair does not equal dumb. I’m aware that I have to decide something sometime. Right now I’m cool with being well-rounded arm candy.

Work: I’ve been slinging coffee at Cool Beans for about six months. That’s how I met Corabelle. Anybody THAT sad needed somebody like me in her life. Studying nonstop when you are not even taking classes is like, I don’t know, bad for your mental health. I make her get out in the world. Engage. Other than boyz. She won’t go near them. Which means more for me. This is a very workable plan.

Boyfriend: Is that singular? I mean, not that I am a big fat cheater (not in my mind) or polyamorist (I love that word), just that there can be, sometimes, a little crossover. See, not every guy goes for me. I mean, they like to LOOK, and often they like to FEEL UP (some parts more than others), but I have to separate the taste testers from the gourmets, you know? So sometimes I am looking for one just a tad bit before I let go of the other. It’s all about life boats. You wouldn’t jump ship until you had one, am I right?

BFF:  Corabelle works for me. I’m hard to be friends with. I know I’m a flirt. I’m as subtle as Miley Cyrus on an award show. So a lot of girls won’t be around me. They think I’ll steal their boyfriends. But I have a code. It’s a serious set of rules I don’t violate, not ever. No boys of friends. No ex-boys of friends. Never ever. So see, I’m not so bad. Just know that if we’re out clubbing, if I see him first, you better stake your claim in a hurry, or else, he’s MINE.


You can follow Jenny’s amusingly not-so-covert relationship with her TA in Forever Innocent (just 99 cents through Jan. 24).

Author Bio:
Deanna Roy is a passionate advocate for women who have lost babies. She founded PregnancyLoss.Info in 1998 and runs many online and in-person support groups. She is the author of several two-hankie reads, including Forever Innocent, Stella & Dane, and Baby Dust.




Giveaway: 
There are two (2) giveaways. The first is for one (1) ebook copy of Forever Loved. Open internationally. The second is for a $50 gift card and a butterfly box full of books and swag. The giveaways are sponsored by the author and/or xpresso book tours. Use the rafflecopter forms below to enter. 
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Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Excerpt, Giveaway & Interview: Otherborn by Anna Silver

Title: Otherborn
Series: Otherborn, #1
Author: Anna Silver
Publisher: Sapphire Star Publishing
Publication: April 4, 2013
Genre: YA
Subgenres: Dystopian, Science Fiction

Amazon|B&N|Goodreads


Synopsis: 
London and her teenage friends live in a reprocessed world.

Confined within Capital City’s concrete walls, London has done the impossible and the illegal. She’s created something New- a song. But her mentor, club owner Pauly, is not impressed. Since the historic Energy Crisis forced everyone behind walls generations ago, the Tycoons have ensured there is truly nothing new allowed under the sun. Pauly warns London to keep her song to herself, if she knows what’s good for her.

What he doesn’t know is that London is keeping an even bigger secret: she dreams. And she’s not alone. London’s band-mates and friends have begun dreaming as well, seeing themselves in “night pictures” as beings from another world. As Otherborn, they must piece together the story of their astral avatars, the Others, in order to save their world from a dreamless, hopeless future.

When Pauly is murdered and an Otherborn goes missing, London realizes someone is hunting them down. Escaping along the Outroads, they brave the deserted Houselands with only their dreams to guide them. Can they find their friend before the assassin finds them? Will being Otherborn save their lives, or destroy them?

Interview: 
An Interview with London

1. Your lives have changed drastically since your journey began, what do you hope for the future?

Freedom.  Freedom to create, to dream, to live as we want, to be who we are. And access to all that the Tycoons have been keeping from us. Not just for me, but for everyone. It’s only fair.

2. How do you feel about having to be on the run? 

It sucks, but what can you do? I miss Pauly. I even miss my mom. But this is our life now. No point looking back.

3. If you could travel back through music history, where would you go and why?

I think I’d crash Woodstock. Pauly said it was this epic concert that happened long before the Energy Crisis. He said people traveled from all over the world to be there. But, like everything else worth dreaming about, most people say it’s just a story, it never happened.

4. If you could do one thing over again or differently what would it be? 

I’d be kinder to my mom. I’d hug her more and care less that she was too drunk to hug me back. She may not be the best mom around, but she’s the only one I’ve got.

5. What scares you the most? 

Losing Rye. He’s my whole heart, you know? I can’t imagine life without him.

6. What makes you happiest? 

Music. Writing, playing, anything to carry me away from this place the Tycoons have wrecked for us. When this is all over, I’m going to scrap a new guitar and write more songs. If I make it that far.

Excerpt: 
When she at last finished, London put down the guitar and said breathlessly, “I’m still working out the lyrics on that last part.”

Pauly gave her a quizzical look, but didn’t respond.

“So, what do you think?”

He nodded, “Not bad. But I’ve never heard that one. Who’s it by? They can’t be anyone I introduced you to. You got a disc Scrapper up your sleeve that I don’t know about?”

London laughed. Pauly always shared his discs with her, which allowed her to save anything and everything she could to trade for illegal tech. He should know she wouldn’t turn to a Scrapper for new music material, no matter where they managed to find the discs and sneak them into the city. “No old man. It’s mine.”

Pauly dropped his arms, his face serious now. “What do you mean yours?”

London shrugged, her loose sweater nearly dropping off one shoulder. “I mean I wrote it.”

Pauly shook his head, his remaining wisps of hair dancing in the air above it. “Wrote it? You?”

“Yeah,” London said, nonchalant. “What’s the big deal?” But London knew exactly what the big deal was. Her song was New.

She hopped off the stage and sat her guitar at the end of the bar. “Come on, let’s shine those glasses now.” She pretended not to notice the dumbfounded expression on Pauly’s face.

“London,” he said quietly behind her. “That’s impossible.”

“Can’t be. Just did it, didn’t I?” She turned to give him a teasing smile, but when she saw his face, the smile faded.

He was looking at her with a mixture of awe and fear, as though she’d sprouted another head right before his eyes.

“London, this is serious,” he said in a low voice.

“I thought you’d like it,” she replied, lowering her eyes, her disappointment at his reaction mounting.

“Doesn’t matter if I like it, does it? H-how? When?” His normally open face was balled into a cluster of creases, one for every question.

“I dunno. Last couple of weeks, I guess. Rye helped.”

Pauly put a thick finger beneath London’s chin and lifted her face to the light. “You’re special, kid. You know that, right?”

She rolled her eyes then nodded when his expression went sour.

“I want you to listen to me when I say this, okay? Listen good. Special ain’t tolerated. Not here. Not nowhere. Not anymore.”

Author Bio: 
Anna Silver is an author and artist living in the greater Houston area with her family, pets, and overactive imagination. Her art has been featured in the Houston gallery Las Manos Magicas. She studied English Writing & Rhetoric at St. Edward’s University. She's freelanced for private clients and small publications like the Hill Country Current. OTHERBORN, her first published novel, has been featured on 2 of Amazon's "Bestsellers" lists. She is represented by Rebecca Podos and Nicole LaBombard of Rees Literary Agency.

Website|Blog|Facebook|Goodreads|Pinterest|Publisher|Twitter 


Giveaway: This giveaway is for an ebook copy of Otherborn. Please use the rafflecopter form below to enter. 
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Monday, January 13, 2014

Excerpt, Interview & Giveaway: All I Ever Wanted by Marilyn Brant, Caisey Auinn, Rhonda Helms, & Lexi Ryan

Title: All I Ever Wanted: An Abbot Springs Anthology
Author: Marilyn Brant, Caisey Auinn, Rhonda Helms, & Lexi Ryan 
Publication: Jan 10, 2014 


Amazon|B&N|Kobo

Synopsis: ALL I EVER WANTED, a new adult winter anthology

Winterfest is heating up in Abbott Springs...

As the town’s yearly festival kicks off, cold days turn into steamy nights, new flames will be ignited, and old romances will be rekindled.

All About Us by Marilyn Brant—All Sami Abbott ever wanted was permission to be herself. At home, she aims to be the perfect daughter but never measures up. At college, she’s the bold girl who had a one-night stand with sexy musician, Alex Hamilton. When he arrives unexpectedly in Abbott Springs, her worlds collide and she must reconcile the girl she tries to be with the person she really is.

All I Need by Caisey Quinn—All pink-haired rocker chick Everly Abbott thought she wanted was acceptance in her straight-laced hometown. But her best friend and bandmate Justin Cohen is about to show her that what she thinks she wants isn’t necessarily what she needs.

All for Love by Rhonda Helms—All Maya Monterey ever wanted was to belong. Happiest with the Abbott family, Maya’s been secretly in love with sexy pastry chef Oliver Abbott for years. With a flirty new look, she’ll pull out all the stops to get him to notice her. And if her plan fails, she’ll walk away from the only home she’s ever known—and Oliver—for good.

All or Nothing by Lexi Ryan—After years of placing the wrong bets, all Aubree Baxter wanted was someone to take a chance on her. Golden boy Kennedy Hale plays it safe in life and love, but to keep Bree in Abbott Springs, he’ll have to go all in.

Excerpt: 
Since this anthology is a collection of 4 novellas, each excerpt package includes an excerpt from each of the four and should be used in its entirety. You may choose between the three packages (found in separate files).

From ALL ABOUT US by Marilyn Brant


My mind rushed back to thoughts of the two of us in October. In Alex’s hotel room. In that king-sized bed.
The way he’d kissed me until I’d felt lightheaded. Like I was levitating.
The way he’d run his fingers across my belly and I could feel the calluses on his fingertips. Rough and gentle at the same time.
The way our bodies found a perfect rhythm together. And how I’d purposely disrupted it when I pulled away that night. He was getting too close. Too close to knowing the real me, even though I’d given him all the wrong details.
“So, ready for some pizza?” he asked, steering me back toward the town square and the Italian restaurant he’d picked out for our dinner. Giovanni’s. As the only really good pizzeria in Abbott Springs, I’d been there hundreds of times, but never with Alexander Hamilton. Somehow I knew he’d make everything about it feel like a brand-new experience.
“Sure,” I said, moving closer to him. Hoping he wouldn’t take back his arm and break the connection between us.
He didn’t. Not until we were almost at the entrance of the restaurant and a man cleared his throat loudly behind us.
As we turned, I heard an all-too-familiar voice say, “Sami. How are you doing, sweetheart? Going to introduce me to your new friend?
Alex took a good look at the man standing tall on the sidewalk a few feet from us and immediately lowered his arm.


From ALL I NEED by Caisey Quinn


“We should probably get back,” I said softly, knowing that if I leaned forward so much as an inch my lips would graze his. My chest must’ve been desperate for attention because it rose between us, thrilling at the contact when it brushed his.
“We probably should,” he agreed without moving.
I knew it was wrong, dangerous even. Justin Cohen had been my everything since…well since the first time he’d scooted his backpack over on the bench so I could sit next him at lunch. Sixth grade. He’d been my best friend, my band mate, my shoulder to cry on, my sweet, always-willing-to-listen best buddy ever since. Nearly ten freaking years.
But there was nothing sweet about the way he was looking at me now. His playing doctor on my ankle had been sweet. This was…something else.
Hunger hooded his eyes as we each waited for the other to make a move. The full weight of the fact that I wouldn’t stop him if he kissed me, the undeniable truth that I wanted him to, pressed down on me, but I held my own. His hands slid up my thighs, not an accidental graze but an intentional friction between our flesh. It was delicious torture, a kind I’d never known before. Painful and slow and sweet and…necessary.
This will change everything.


From ALL FOR LOVE by Rhonda Helms

Maya tightened her jaw and looked dead into my eyes. “Everything I love most in this world is in this town, Oliver.” Her voice hitched, and she swallowed. “How could I ever want to leave it?”
The air locked in my chest. My head rushed and buzzed with the hum of a thousand words battering at my brain. It was one thing to have your sister tell you how someone felt about you. Another thing to have the woman herself looking up at you, practically admitting those feelings.
Maya blinked, ripped her gaze from mine, and gave an awkward laugh, a dark flush stealing across her cheeks. “Oh, God,” she said on a broken sigh. “I…I can’t believe I just…”
Before I even realized what I was doing, I dropped my nearly empty cup and captured Maya’s face in my hands then pressed my closed mouth against hers. I felt her stiffen in shock for a brief moment, her cup plopping to the ground near mine, then sigh and melt into me like butter simmering in a hot skillet. She opened her mouth and drew me in, and I savored Maya for the first time.
Her scent, her taste drugged me instantly. Beyond the spices of the alcohol lay something deeper, something feminine that made me ache for more.


From ALL OR NOTHING by Lexi Ryan


A flood of light jerked me from sleep. I wanted to draw up the covers and go back to the dream. I wanted to send away the noisy light-bearers, whoever they were, but then I heard Kennedy’s voice and sat up in bed before I even remembered where I was.
“Who are you?” I asked, my eyes heavy, my voice crackling with sleep. Was I in Kennedy’s house or—
It all came back to me. My impulsive flight to Ohio. The cab ride to Kennedy’s small college. His roommate showing me to his room.
But this wasn’t my plan, falling asleep, being disoriented. I’d never planned for the leggy blonde standing next to Kennedy, her eyes bugging out so much I feared they might pop out of her head.
I blinked at her. Trying to understand why she might be here. Then two things happened at once: I remembered I was naked, and the blonde turned to Kennedy and slapped him across the face.
“What the fuck, Bree?” Kennedy growled. The blonde was already storming out of his room, and from the anger on his face, I could only assume her exit didn’t exactly work with his plans for the evening.

His words hurt, but not as much as the aggravation on his face. I guess I’d thought he’d find me nude in his bed and say something like, “Finally,” before pressing his mouth to mine and pulling his clothes off as quickly as possible. 

Author Bio:
Marilyn Brant is a USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of eight novels to date, writing in the genres of contemporary women's fiction, romantic comedy, and new adult/mystery. Recently, the Illinois Association of Teachers of English selected her as their 2013 Author of the Year. As a former teacher, library staff member, freelance magazine writer, and national book reviewer, Marilyn has spent much of her life lost in literature. Her books have been featured by the Doubleday Book Club, Book-of-the-Month Club, Literary Guild, BOMC2, and Rhapsody Book Club, and they've won awards such as the Romance Writers of America's Golden Heart, the Booksellers' Best, and the Aspen Gold Reader's Choice. She lives in the Chicago suburbs with her family, reads a lot of Jane Austen, and loves chocolate, old movies, and road trips with music blaring and the windows rolled down. Please visit her online at www.marilynbrant.com or find her on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/marilyn.brant and Twitter @marilynbrant

Caisey Quinn lives in a suburb outside of Birmingham, Alabama with her husband, daughter, and other assorted animals. She wears cowgirl boots most of the time, even to church. She is the bestselling author of the Kylie Ryans series and writes New and Young Adult books about country girls finding love in unexpected places. She can be found online at www.caiseyquinnwrites.com or on Twitter as @CaiseyQuinn where she spends entirely too much time chatting with readers, writers, and anyone who’s willing.

Rhonda Helms started writing novels several years ago and loves teen and New Adult romance. She has a Master's degree in English and a Bachelor's degree in Creative Writing. She also freelance edits (visit rhondaedits.com to learn more about her services). When she isn't writing, she likes to do amateur photography, dig her toes into the sand, read for hours at a time, and eat way too much cheese. Rhonda lives in Northeast Ohio with her family, dog, and a very loud cat. Visit her at rhondahelmsbooks.com for details about her and her books. You can also find her on twitter @rhelmsbooks or Facebook at facebook.com/rhondahelmsbooks.

A New York Times and USA Today bestselling romance author, Lexi Ryan considers herself the luckiest chick she knows. Her books have been described as intense, emotional, and wickedly sexy. When not writing, she enjoys watching football, perfecting her chocolate martini, and reading her way to the title of Biggest Romance Fangirl Evah. A former college professor, her biggest fears include faculty meetings and large stacks of ungraded freshman composition papers. She now writes full-time from her home in Indiana, where she lives with her husband and two children and their neurotic dog. You can visit Lexi at her website www.lexiryan.com or find her on Twitter @writerlexiryan or Facebook at facebook.com/lexiryanauthor. 

Interview:
ALL I EVER WANTED is a winter anthology, complete with sledding races, spiked hot cocoa, and ice skating. Are you a winter lover?
       

Marilyn: I grew up in Wisconsin and now live in Illinois, so I’ve had to make peace with shoveling snow and scraping ice away every winter, LOL, but I can’t say I love the cold temps. I am very, very fond of hot cocoa (both spiked and unspiked), however, and I’ve always enjoyed ice skating and watching the Winter Olympics when they’re on.
Caisey: I love winter clothes, but the actual cold part, not so much!
Rhonda: For the most part, yes! But usually when I’m inside, sitting by a deliciously roaring fire. lol. I hate being super cold, but I do enjoy making snowmen, sled racing, and ice skating. I also like taking outdoor pictures.
Lexi: Maybe I’d say yes if it were a sweltering Indiana summer out my door right now, but instead it’s twelve inches of snow and negative windchills and I’m feeling like I really, really don’t like winter. But I sure don’t mind writing about it.


This anthology is really unique in that all the stories are connected and scenes from one story might appear in another. What was your favorite part about working on this anthology?


Marilyn: I loved the experience of getting to see a scene told in multiple viewpoints by our differing main characters. And it was fascinating to work so closely on a writing project with three authors whose stories I admire so much.
Caisey: Getting to see the many differences and similarities in each of our writing processes.
Rhonda: There was a community created by working so closely together that I’ve never experienced before. It really made me connected to my story and to the others. We were all vested in each other’s novellas, which I loved.
Lexi: We spent a weekend in Louisville to really nail down some of the continuity issues on the anthology. We worked a lot, but we also laughed more than I think I’ve ever laughed in my life. We writers spend an awful lot of time in solitude. It was wonderful to laugh with people who “get” the business like you do..


What was the most difficult part about putting it together?


Rhonda: Oh, all those nitpicky touches, the back-and-forth exchanges of scenes, then going over and over and over it all to make sure we didn’t mess up the timeline. FUN. lol
Marilyn: Yeah, Rhonda nailed it. There were a lot of details!
Caisey: What Rhonda said!
Lexi: To echo what Rhonda said...When we were in Louisville, we sat down at about 10am to start nailing down some of the details. We went page by page through each of our stories. “Oh, here your character says this.” “No, he wouldn’t change it quite like that. Change it to this.” “What’s Maya wearing that night?” “How would Kennedy be acting at the opening address?” Yes! Tons of details! But it was worth it to create what I think is a really unique product.


Obviously, a love of new adult romance brought you four together for this anthology. Name two of your favorite NA reads.


Marilyn: Aside from Lexi’s, Caisey’s, and Rhonda’s stories, which are awesome, I’ve also really enjoyed The Edge of Never by J.A. Redmerski and Violet Duke’s Resisting the Bad Boy.
Caisey: Oh gosh. There are so many good ones it’s hard to pick just two! My two faves of 2013 were probably Escaping Me by Elizabeth Lee and Break It Up by E.M. Tippetts.
Rhonda: Well, I love all of my fellow anthology authors’ works, lol. Seriously, they’re brilliant--make sure to check them out. But if we go beyond those, I also adored EASY by Tammara Webber and TANGLED by Emma Chase. So good!

Lexi: Oh, yes, I echo what everyone else said. Read them first! Obviously we enjoy each other’s work and that’s why we decided to do this together. After them, definitely EASY by Tammara Webber and ONE WEEK GIRLFRIEND (well, the whole series) by Monica Murphy.

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